Chinese navy ships visit Myanmar for joint exercises

SHANGHAI (Reuters) - Chinese navy ships are visiting Myanmar and
will conduct communications, search and rescue, and other joint
exercises with the Myanmar navy, China's defense ministry said on
Saturday.

The ships arrived in Yangon on Thursday for a four-day visit,
spokesman Wu Qian said in remarks posted on the ministry's
website.

Wu said China was willing to strengthen strategic communication
and deepen cooperation with Myanmar, while making joint efforts
to safeguard regional peace and stability and promote bilateral
ties.

The ship visit started the day China and the Association of
Southeast Asian Nations agreed to a framework for a long-mooted
code of conduct for the disputed South China Sea.

It comes after Chinese President Xi Jinping met Nobel laureate
Aung San Suu Kyi - who serves as Myanmar's foreign minister while
also being de facto head of its civilian government - in Beijing
earlier this week following China's Belt and Road Forum.

China had a close relationship with Myanmar's former military-run
government, and has carefully watched the democratisation process
in its strategically located southern neighbour.

(Reporting by John Ruwitch; Editing by Simon Cameron-Moore)

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